Cardiff City could pay their biggest fee for a player since Neil Warnock has been in charge if they secure their top target in January.

The Bluebirds want a top class midfielder this month to supplement their threadbare squad, with Warnock revealing he's been chasing the player since the summer - but has managed to keep his identity under wraps.

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"I’d love a top class midfield player if I’m honest. Someone who’d fit into the way we play and who’d make us better. We can’t just rely on poor old Joe (Ralls) to get us out of the cart. That’s a priority and then obviously a striker because we've lost Danny Ward.

"No names, it’s really touch wood and we’ve kept it all in house. Not even any rumours from you guys (the media)."

Warnock, who wasn't able to put a timescale on Aron Gunnarsson's continued injury problems, is confident of securing the signing in the next week or so.

And with players like Lee Peltier and Sol Bamba forced to play out of position in midfield in recent weeks, not to mention Craig Bryson's fitness problems, it could be a vital piece of transfer business.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

"You’ve got to have three or four targets to come up with one (signing)," added Warnock.

"We’re still talking about my No.1 target and I’d love to sign the lad.

"I’ve been after him since the end of last season and I didn’t get any encouragement but he’d probably be our record signing since I’ve been here.

"I’m trying to get that over board and then I’m looking at other players.

"I’m spending every minute of the day looking at signings. I’m trying to get two in before Sunderland.

"If we got two or three quality players, we can take off and look forward rather than be depressed and a bit disappointed. One or two lads are lacking confidence with the results but that soon changes and to get new faces and quality in the building, would be very good."

On McGoldrick, who is reportedly on the radar of Cardiff and Birmingham City, Warnock wouldn't be drawn into a definitive response.

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"It’s wrong for me to talk about players at other clubs, " said Warnock.

"We’ve enquired about quite a lot of players and we’ll continue to do that. You get agents telling you it’s straightforward and then it’s nothing like that. I don’t get really excited players about until we get them into the building, strikers or midfielder."

Warnock also revealed he hoped Liam Feeney's loan deal from Blackburn would be extended until the end of the season in time for the winger to feature against Mansfield in Saturday's FA Cup clash.

Feeney has only started three matches since completing a deadline day loan to the Welsh capital but he's done enough to impress Warnock.

He added: "We’re hoping to get that done to enable him to be involved.

"He’s a very good lad to have around the place. He’s only started three games but we will try and keep him - we’re trying to get that done as we speak so he’s involved (against Mansfield)."